The beautiful mountainous hinterland is a paradise for hikers, horse riders, huntsmen and cyclists (the Spanish are second to none when it comes to cycling up a mountain!).

The Costa del Sol is often referred to as the Golfing Mecca of Europe and for golf enthusiasts Estepona is the perfect holiday base with numerous championship courses within easy reach.

There are eight courses in the surrounding area and 40 along the Costa del Sol. The nearest courses are Estepona golf course six kilometres west of the town, Los Almendros five kilometres to the east and Los Flamingos, 10 kilometres to the east. Atalaya North and South courses are 15 kilometres east of Estepona.

Famous courses within easy reach include Valderrama, Torrequebrada, Alhaurin El Grande and one of Andalucia's most spectacular courses, Monte Mayor.

The "horsey" holidaymakers among you can take lessons or hire a horse at Estepona's Escuela de Arte Ecuestre. If you travel west along the coast to Tarifa, at the southernmost tip of Spain, you can hire horses for fabulous rides across the miles of unspoilt sand dunes which overlook the Strait of Gibraltar and the coast of North Africa.

For a great day out visit the "Sherry city" of Jerez where you can combine a visit to the bodegas with a magnificent display of horsemanship at the famous Andalucian School of Equestrian Art.

Several hotels and clubs offer tennis, squash and health and fitness facilities such as saunas, spa baths, weight training rooms and aerobics sessions.

Less energetically inclined lovers of nature can take a stroll through one of the town's many beautiful parks or head into the beautiful Sierra Bermeja mountains, a national reserve with scenery which will take your breath away.

Estepona has four museums charting this area's colourful past which has included long periods of domination by the Romans and Moors. All the museums are located within the town's bullring they include a bull fighting museum with glittering costumes donated by some of Spain's top bullfighters.

Shopaholics should pay a visit to the town's street market held in Avenida Juan Carlos every Wednesday morning and the big Sunday morning market at the marina. Not only can you snap up cheap gifts, leather goods, jewellery, arts, crafts and CDs but it's also the most "happening" place to see and be seen on a Sunday. If you don't want to buy anything just enjoy a café con leche by the quayside and people watch.

The marina is one of the favourite spots for lunch you can dine al fresco and take your pick of a huge range of local and international restaurants. You'll find excellent Chinese and Italian food, haute cuisine, cheap burgers, delicious local fresh fish dishes and of course the inevitable paella.

Try to plan your visit around one of the big fiestas and enjoy a traditional Spanish "knees up" with bands, parades, processions and general mayhem. Colourful religious processions take place on May 15th, the feast of San Isidro Labrador, and during Easter Week (Semana Santa). The biggest fiesta is a week long extravaganza held in July when the town parties round the clock with fun fairs, a giant paella for all revellers, music and dancing.